DA targets to finish ASF vaccine procurement by end of 2024

HEALTH CHECK Pigs are inspected at a livestock checkpoint in Cavite province for symptoms of African Swine Fever to prevent the spread of the disease. — RICHARD A. REYES

MANILA, Philippines — The Department of Agriculture (DA) on Tuesday said it is targeting to finish the procurement of 600,000 African Swine Fever (ASF) vaccines by the end of 2024.

“We hope to complete the procurement of 600,000 doses by the end of December this year,” Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said in a Palace briefing.

Laurel also said the procurement of the initial 10,000 doses is expected to be finished by the end of September.

“And the schedule for the award for the next 450,000 doses is October 10th, of which we will take delivery of 150,000 doses by then,” he added.

According to the agriculture chief, expediting the release of ASF vaccines will benefit backyard farmers and livestock growers as they will be confident to invest in hog raising again.

Once the ASF vaccines have been fully rolled out, the DA will focus on repopulating hogs to regain the previous record of 14 million heads, which decreased to 7.5 million based on the DA’s latest estimates.

“Hopefully everything will be implemented on schedule. Sana next year puro repopulation na lang tayo (I hope next year we will just focus on repopulation),” Laurel said.

READ: 4 firms eye contract to supply PH with ASF vaccines